Betty1943

[betty1943]

I have a longing to go to India.  I am down to 2mgs of pred and doing (dare I say!) ok.  I have had GCA since Sept. 2014, what does everyone think would value your opinion.  

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Betty,

I say, go for it! I flew to NZ when I was on about 7mg, and almost 2 years after GCA diagnosis. 

I was a bit wary about going, but determined. I stopped at Singapore on both trips, staying for a couple of days on the onward journey. 

Yes the long flights are tiring, but so long as you prepare sensibly, and ensure you can rest for a day, or two after arrival, you should be okay.  Because I was visiting family I stayed for six weeks, so luckily didn't have to cram everything into a short time, which made life easier. 

Get yourself into the "time" of your arrival country, I change my watch as soon as I get on the plane, in respect of taking tablets, which means you'll probably end up taking an extra dose one-way.  Take extra Pred, just in case you need them, and in your hand luggage, plus copy of prescription. 

Be aware of the heat, obviously, that can be quite debilitating, and cover up in the sun, even on low doses of Pred you are more likely to burn. 

Get help at the airport, if you need it. Make sure your travel insurance lists PMR as an existing condition, and most of all - enjoy yourself! 

[betty1943 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL.  I was a great traveller until GCA struck, very keen to get going again but don't want to push it.  I worked in NZ for 2 years and Oz for 18 months.  Good to get your help, thank you, may plan it for next year, we'll see

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Shhhhhh! If you are planning a lovely holiday - don't push a reduction! 

Go for it - but not a treking holiday up the jungle or one of these "meet the natives" sort. DL's given the practical details. Try to make flight days as short as possible - stay near the airport the night before, whatever time the flight is unless you only live an hour or so away. The direct UK/India flights are under 9 hours so hardly worth having a stop-over - but if you choose a connecting flight do think about that. A short stop-over is very tiring hanging around and changing planes.

Wish I could come with you - I have a longing to go too, SA as well, but OH isn't in the least interested. I was surprised how well he coped with China - bits of it weren't much less "native" than tourist India...

[betty1943 in reply to PMRpro]

After all the good advice on this site keeping on this dose for a while.  It's touring in a coach but they can be full on.  We always stay in a hotel near Heathrow beforehand.  I'm also considering paying extra for a Premier Class upgrade, we go with Just You for single travellers have had about 20 brill. hols. with them, one of our other hols was SA, wonderful.  Sorry everybody but a bit of light stuff does help along the way and relieves the pressure a bit, thanks PMRpro, may see you in India!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to betty1943]

Who are you flying with? Is Premium Class the version between cattle and business class? We were offered that at the gate with Lufthansa for our flight to China, hadn't paid for anything else so thought, why not. 350 euros each it should have been. New tickets written, old ones torn up, time to pay: machine wouldn't work. There wasn't one available before flight time - so we got it free. Coming back it wasn't offered so we were in normal cattle class and we decided that Premium Economy as Luftwaffe call it was DEFINITELY not worth 350 euros! I have flown with Virgin in that class and it was superb - but that was several years ago - everything has shrunk since then.

I'm flying with Lufthansa to Vancouver in a few weeks - when I checked the flights to tell the conference what to buy I noted that PE was actually CHEAPER than cattle class for the flight out I wanted and mentioned it. So outwards it's slightly upmarket and all downhill coming back.

Yes, the China trip was a coach thing. Had I known what was involved I'm not sure I'd have booked it but I was fine and it was definitely worth it. I didn't do climbing towers I didn't need to and looked from afar on occasions. 

[Pat9442]

I am going touring in India in October for three weeks.  I am currently on 9 mg Pred and over the last two years have never managed to get lower.  Pred has also caused my previously well controlled Type 2 diabetes to go haywire and I am now on insulin!  Will this stop me travelling?  No.  Use common sense.  Rest whenever able.  Take at least twice the amount to tablets you need, take all the normal precautions re food, water and vaccinations and go and enjoy yourself.  I have been before (pre pmr) and can't wait to see more of this fascinating country

[betty1943 in reply to Pat9442]

Thank you Pat Enjoy please let us know how you get on.

[betty1943]

Jet Airways.  It's the only upgrade they have.  It's the 180 degree bed I fancy.  I don't want to chance it.  I thought I would pick and choose what to do, there is a pretty detailed itinerary.  Thanks for your observations.  Also considering a river cruise!!  

[Cemmein]

I went to India several years ago while on prednisolone & had other problems such as bowel prolapse which gave me periods of bad urinary infections with vomiting due to my prednisolone. compromised immune system.

My lovely consultant said I could go provided I took a letter from him which covered my medical history  etc.

I was very careful not to eat any street food, or salads etc only good restaurants, or in my son's house with his cook making the food. He would not let me go to various dodgy areas. The worrying thing is the long plane journey where it is easy to pick up chest infections. My daughter in law now wears a bug proof mask on planes.

Some loos were a bit "dodgy" crouching on smelly open hole on floor but if you are very very careful & carry antiseptic hand wipes  & bottle of water for best & keep out of sun you should be 0k. I was in Delhi & the heat even in March was horrendous!!! Air conditioning & water kept breaking down!

I did end up in private hospital who were fantastic! They read the letter & had  blood tests done & resuluts back & put me on drip for 4 hours then sent me back to my sons house I t only cost me £17!! We had to stay an extra week until I was well enough to go home but only paid about a £150 extra!!

We did go business class (emirates) which I highly recommend. I am registered disabled. A car picked us up fro house to airport & vice versa which was marvellous!

I f you are very careful then go! Otis a fascinating country! That was actually 8 years ago so I am not going again as I am more unwell & now 77 but so glad I went!

Take care & all the precautions & enjoy! Good luck! C 

 s yes I have been on steroids for P MR for over 10 years but could not live without it!

[Hidden]

Go for it.

I did 7 weeks touring the Philippines and Australia In Feb/March and I was still on 10mg.

Going off to the Seychelles for 17 days on Saturday.

I even managed a couple of dives whilst in the Philippines.

Doc said if I was fit and the inflammation was under control he saw no reason why I shouldn't.... so I did....

[betty1943]

Thanks Beekaykay.  It's a bit like mind over matter,  give it a whirl and see if it works.  Your info much appreciated.

[Ida-June128]

I went  to India  year into PMR with a six month pinned broken femur to photograph tigers in wildlife reserves. I upped my pred to 15 mg daily while I was there and apart from a bit of a problem getting in and out of the jeep - most inelegent - i was fine.  I had wheelchair assistance at Heathrow which was a bit scrappy but at Delhi they were waiting at the steps from the plane......so caring all the time I was there.

I found resting for an hour or so mid day helped me with the heat but otherwise the trip went without any health problems. I also got some great tiger shots.

[betty1943 in reply to Ida-June128]

Wow, Ida that's great. Gives me a lot of encouragement.  Thank you very much.